Where are our gingerbread men???

Oh what fun we had today, families!
I was covered in flour and your children had a wonderful time decorating all of their gingerbread men.  You can see the children in the side bar slide show.
Many of our well behaved little ones simply could not focus today, they could imagine the taste of  gingerbread cookies throughout our lessons.  During lunch, our cafeteria manager informed us sadly, that although our friend Ms. Jennifer had secured the oven (we even have pictures of her closing the oven door!!), the gingerbread men leaped out of the oven.
Ms. Robin said they tried to chase them through the cafeteria.
All the ladies in the lunchroom heard was, "Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man!"
But there is no way the resilient hearts of our youngsters can be downtrodden.
No sir!!
We will be searching for those gingerbread men all through the school tomorrow.
Stay tuned, families....
Sweet dreams,
Mrs. C.

Homework

I am grading assessments and it occurs to me that I would like to try adapting homework to the learner instead of sending home a general, one size fits all packet of worksheets. I will have a label affixed into the planner indicating what extra practice can be beneficial to your learner.  I do not want homework to become a source of stress for you and the family.  Nor will I impose when it should be done.  All I ask is that you utilize the individualized tools sent home to keep what was learned in class fresh in your learner's mind.  I am not asking for anything to be turned in, just that time be spent going over the suggested assignments.

You can expect to see coming home:

• Sight words (words to know by sight)
• Emergent readers
• Math homework
• Flashcards (for number and letter recognition) 

As ever, I am grateful to be your partner in your child's success.  Please contact me if you have any questions.
Mrs. C.

Rubric

You may notice a number circled atop some of your learner's classroom work.  I use a general rubric. Rubrics specify the level of performance expected in an assignment/project.  Along with specific comments provided by me, the use of rubrics will (in time) help your learner judge and revise their own work before handing in an assignment.

4- Perfect score, can’t ask for more.  Look at me, I am a four!

3- Almost perfect, look at me.  Doing great, I am a three.

2- Still much to do, makes me a two.  But I can do it, I’ll show you.

1- I have just begun.  with hard work, I’ll get it done, but for now, I am a one.

Poppin' into Science

We explored the scientific method this week.  I explained to the children that science is change and we observe those changes through our five senses.  I used a common shared experience to integrate writing into the lesson.  I had the children draw what the bag of popcorn looked like before popping and using their background knowledge they drew what it would look like after it was heated and changed.

 

 

 Then the children waited anxiously to eat their popcorn!

 Yummy!!

 Next week, we will continue to explore the scientific method through color.  Just can't wait!
Warmly,
Mrs. C.

First full day of kindergarten!

Wow, families!
We made it through our first day as a class!  There were a few tears today (me included) and so much activity!  Everyone got home the correct way and I am most grateful to have really begun our journey.
I don't know how your children are faring, but, I know my son did not make it past 7:10 this evening before finally surrendering to sleep.
Today was very busy, I cannot believe I remembered to take out my camera.
The children learned about position and location in mathematics this afternoon.
We were having so much fun, I forgot to take them to the library!  Yikes!
I started by introducing the vocabulary to the children by saying the word, "inside".  Then, I clapped out the word in syllables.  The children then turned to a neighbor and whispered the word.  When I wrote the word on the whiteboard the children said, "inside!"  I almost dropped my dry erase marker.
I took out hula hoops (thanks, Coach!) and demonstrated jumping inside the circle.  By then, all the children were ready.  Upon returning to our seats, the children had a blank paper with a rectangular box.  They drew themselves jumping inside the circle.  We had practiced writing and reading the sight word "I" today so the children were able to write a beginning sentence in their math journal.

We finger spelled L-O-V-E today (as a way of creating a hook into long-term memory), we learned more ASL (American Sign Language) for signs that are useful in class management, we read Dr. Seuss, learned some of our friends names and whew, what a day!
Oh, the things we will learn tomorrow!
Good night, families.
Warmly,
Mrs. C.

Bucket fillers

Be a bucket filler

Rymfire has embraced a bully prevention program called Bucket Fillers.  Students fill their invisible buckets with good thoughts and feelings.  If a student is choosing to be mean, we teach the children to "use their lid"to avoid someone "dipping in their bucket".  This program encourages positive behavior.  Children see how very easy and rewarding it is to express kindness, appreciation and love on a daily basis.  We will be reading our book on Tuesday as it will be the first day we are all together. 
Yay!!
The children earn "Bucket Bucks" when they are caught demonstrating traits of being a bucket filler.  The bucket bucks are collected and drawn during lunch every other Friday by an administrator.  If your child's ticket is pulled, he/she wins a prize of their choice.
I feel our classroom color clip chart compliments the school-wide initiative to create an atmosphere of caring perfectly.  It is all about choice.  Please count on me to be an extension of the labor of love you have begun with your child in guiding toward good choices and positive behavior.

Warmly,
Mrs. Caronna

 No more negative connotations about the corner, this is our Character Station.

 

Color clip chart

Staggered start

Staggered start allows your child to get accustomed  to our classroom routine with only 30% of the class.  Staggered start will be the first three days of school:  Thursday, August 16th, Friday, August 17th and Monday, August 20th.

• Only students with last names that begin with  A-I attend on August 16th
• Only students with last names that begin with J-Q attend on August 17th
• Students with last names that begin with R-Z attend on August 20th

All children will begin their second day of school on Tuesday, August 21st.

Our school hosts a "BooHoo Breakfast" of coffee and donuts to ensure that all parents feel comfortable after dropping off their child to Kindergarten.  On Tuesday, August 21st from 9:00 am - 9:45 am, you can enjoy coffee and donuts in our Media Center.  At this time, you can meet with the principal and kindergarten guidance counselor to ask any questions you may have.

 Together, we are going to make this year wonderful!

Warmly,
Mrs. Caronna